Support is Sexy

Latest Episodes:

748: How Collab Co-Founder Jewel Burks Solomon Helps Black Tech Founders Gain Access to Capital, Connections and Resources Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, learn about what it's like to sell your company to a huge company, like Amazon, from Founder of Partpic Jewel Burks Solomon. Now Head of Google for Startups in the US and Manager Partner at Collab Capital, Jewel shares her story from counting dollar bills from her family's business to developing her own product and business to now providing capital and support to other entrepreneurs in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

Elayne Fluker is author of the new book, "Get Over 'I Got It': How to Stop Playing Superwoman, Get Support and Remember that Having It All Doesn't Mean Doing It All Alone." As host of the SUPPORT IS SEXY podcast, she interviews more than 500 successful women entrepreneurs around the world, who share inspiring, true stories of the ups and the downs of their entrepreneurial journeys. Elayne is also founder of SiS.Academy, an online learning platform for women entrepreneurs. For more information about Elayne Fluker, please visit elaynefluker.com. Thank you for listening!

About our Guest:

Jewel Burks Solomon is Head of Google for Startups in the US, where she works with underrepresented startup founders, and Manager Partner at Collab Capital, an alternative investment fund focused on closing the funding gap for Black entrepreneurs and innovators. Jewel was Founder of Partpic, a startup that was acquired by Amazon in 2016, the same year she was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30.

Insight from this episode:

Insights into the emotional journey of selling your company and questions you must ask yourself before you do it.
Insider look into the first steps in launching a tech company.
How to tell if you are the answer to the problem you're trying to solve.
How to find the people with the right skill sets to help you in your business.

Quotes from the show:

On how she knew to take action: "It would not go away. I kept thinking about it, kept thinking about it. I had so much energy around it. I was really excited about it." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748
"There is a risk of [people "stealing your ideas"], but it's a very low risk as compared to the risk involved if you just keep it to yourself, and no one ever helps you, and you never get it off the ground." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748
"Ideas are a dime a dozen, everybody has ideas… but the execution is what matters." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748
"When things don't feel right, they're not right, and you should always go with your gut." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748
"We can't wait on other people to wake up to the fact that there's all this opportunity in our communities. It's really on us to make the investments that we think are the right investments to make." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748
"The best way to grow your company is through customers." – Jewel Burks Solomon Support is Sexy Ep. #748

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Jewel Burks Solomon

Website: JewelBruks.com

Twitter: @JewelMelanie

Instagram: @JewelMelanie

Collab Capital

Website: collab.capital

Twitter: @Collab_capital

Instagram: @Collab.capital

Google First Startups

Website: startup.google.com

Twitter: @GoogleStartups

Facebook: @GoogleForStartups

Instagram: @GoogleForStartups

Youtube: Google For Startups

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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747: How to Build a Mission-Driven Business and Be Propelled By Your Purpose with Sseko CEO Liz Bohannon Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Liz Bohannon founder of Sseko goes deep into how to set up a mission-driven business with global impact. Liz encourages us to choose proximity, empathy, and listening to do better in our businesses and our communities as she shares the impact that Sseko has had on women worldwide in providing opportunities, empowerment, and access. Listen for great reminders of why it's important to be laser focused on your purpose in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Liz Bohannon is Founder and CEO of Sseko, a socially conscious fashion brand that exists to create community and opportunity for academically gifted female scholars across the world. Seeko has been recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek as a top social enterprise. Liz is author of Beginner's Pluck: Build your life of purpose, passion and impact now and host of podcast Plucking Up.

Insight from this episode:

Strategies for connecting your mission and purpose to your business.
Details on what Liz's company has done to promote equity and become more anti-racist.
Benefits of "breaking open your world" and advice on how to take the leap.
An insider look at the ins and outs of how Liz's community-based, ambassador-model business works and what she is doing to democratize social entrepreneurship.

Quotes from the show:

"I didn't find that passion [for my business] thinking about it. I actually built that passion in the processing of doing that thing." –Liz Bohannon Support is Sexy Ep. #747
"Running out of money and going broke was an incredible thing to happen because it forced me to get the product out into people's hands before I was ready because I was desperate." –Liz Bohannon Support is Sexy Ep. #747
"When you become a part of something that's bigger than yourself, and when you get a vision for something that you actually think is going to make the world a little bit better and brighter, you're willing to be pretty shameless about it." –Liz Bohannon Support is Sexy Ep. #747
"We've got women in Uganda who are able to leave abusive relationships because they are not financially dependent. And then guess what, we have women in the United States who get to leave abusive, unhealthy relationships because the first time in their life, they have a community of people who are saying, you don't deserve that-- here's a pathway toward building a life that could look a lot different." –Liz Bohannon Support is Sexy Ep. #747
"Purpose is something that needs to be baked into your business." –Liz Bohannon Support is Sexy Ep. #747

Resources Mentioned

Interview with Tina Lifford on Support is Sexy

Ram Daas

Liz Bohannon's Podcast Plucking Up

Liz Bohannon's Book Beginner's Pluck

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Liz Bohannon

Website: SsekoDesigns.com

Podcast: Plucking Up

Twitter: @SsekoDesigns

Facebook: @SsekoDesigns

Instagram: @SsekoDesigns

Pinterest: Sseko Designs

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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746: How to Be Epic at Sales (and Not Feel Slimy) with Master Coach Laura Wright Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy hear about Founder of EPIC at Sales Laura Wright's journey to building her "unshakeable" business and learn how you can too! "Sales ninja" Laura gives her Five Steps of Sales along with other advice for how women can step into their sales mastery. Laura explains why sales aren't sleazy and how both income and impact can be non-negotiable in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Laura Wright is Master Coach and Founder of EPIC at Sales, where her mission is to support entrepreneurs to master the art of selling in a way that is custom to you, so you can build the business that fuels your life. She rebuilt her life from more than $500,000 of debt and has closed over $43 million over the last 20 years in business. She is the go-to sales coach for high 6 and 7 figure women business owners.

Insight from this episode:

Reflections on trusting your gut and bouncing back from huge setbacks-- and how to use those setbacks to propel you forward.
Behind-the-scenes look into what it's like working with a business coach and how to build an "unshakeable" business.
Insider tips from Laura's "Five Steps of Sales" and how it creates authentic connection.
Strategies on attracting your ideal client and how to reach out to them.
How to set the right price points.

Quotes from the show:

"Things were not going well, and I wasn't acknowledging it. So I pushed forward on a hope… When I went for the money, versus what was right, that was one of my big things that took me off course." –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746
"You can't be frozen in fear and in motion and in action at the same time… Action and motion can cure a lot." –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746
"Sales is actually a loving experience." –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746
"When you can tap into someone's core internal urgency, they're actually going to get what they need and you're going to get what you need… Sales and service are not separate." –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746
"You're helping someone transform. So if your value matches getting them out of their pain, getting them into their vision, and you are the bridge getting them there-- the price point is irrelevant." –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746
"My call to action to everyone listening to this is 'Charge more.'" –Laura Wright Support is Sexy Ep. #746

Resources Mentioned

No Woman Down Book

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Laura Wright

Website: EpicAtSales.com

Facebook: @Epicatsales

Instagram: @Epicatsales

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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745: How to Sell Your Products on Amazon with Amazon Seller Coach Kirsty Verity, Who Has Sold More Than $17 Million in Products Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Kirsty Verity -- CEO of REAL Coaching who has sold $17 million of product on Amazon and coached 1000+ Amazon sellers on how to set up their businesses -- gives tons of in-depth details and how-to's. Listen to see if you have what it takes to be an Amazon seller-- it might not be as high of a hurdle as you'd think! Kirsty has been able to fuel the lifestyle she wanted. Figure out if you can, too, on Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Kirsty Verity is Co-Founder and CEO of REAL Coaching, providing real coaching for real people who want real businesses for real freedom. Kirsty has sold $17 million of product on Amazon since 2013 and coached 1000+ Amazon sellers. She is a Strategic Branding Expert with 20 years of branding expertise, and she has hosted and spoken at many eCommerce events, including SellerCon 2019.

Insight from this episode:

Kirsty's first moves and the journey to building her Amazon business model, with helpful step-by-step guides and tools to use along the way.
Specific "tricks of the trade" of Amazon selling that were crucial to Kirsty's success.
An inside look into Kirsty's coaching business REAL Coaching.

Quotes from the show:

"Let go of the how. You don't know exactly how you're going to do it, otherwise you probably would've done it already. You have to take some time to experiment and find what feels good." –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #745
"Don't try to invent something or re-invent something yourself. Follow a model that someone's already had success with." –Kirsty Verity Support is Sexy Ep. #745
"There's going to be times when it doesn't go well… but as long as you know why you're doing it, and it's a strong enough burning desire why, then you're going to make it work." –Kirsty Verity Support is Sexy Ep. #745
"As entrepreneurs, we've got ADD... But we have to get good at, "Okay is that right for me right now? Have I maxed out the current strategy that I'm doing right now?" And If you haven't, just continue doing what you're doing." –Kirsty Verity Support is Sexy Ep. #745
"You set up as you're the authority. Even if you've not been in business and you've never ordered a product before, just write an email as if you have." –Kirsty Verity Support is Sexy Ep. #745
On time management: "It's a bit like when you want to go on a diet-- what am I eating right now that is really not helping me on my journey? And so, what am I wasting my time on that's really not helping me on that journey to do something different with my life?" –Kirsty Verity Support is Sexy Ep. #745
"Don't build a brand around the product; you're finding products to fit the brand." –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #745

Resources Mentioned

Jungle Scout

Alibaba.com

T-mall

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Kirsty Verity

Email: kirsty@goteamreal.com

Website: www.goteamreal.com

Podcast: Sprint to Profit

LinkedIn: Kirsty Verity

Instagram: @real_amazon_coaching

Youtube: REAL Coaching

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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744: How to Raise Your First Million and Build Your Cru with Cru Founder Tiffany Dufu Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Tiffany Dufu gives incredible advice from her experience in starting and building her company, The Cru. Tiffany, an inspiration for any woman looking to make a difference in the world, discusses aspects of her business from inception to present, the importance of intentionality, accountability, and commitment, and what prompted her to raise a million dollars for The Cru. Tune in for real advice on raising capital from someone who's been there in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Tiffany Dufu is founder and CEO of The Cru, a peer coaching platform for women looking to accelerate their professional and personal growth. Author of Drop the Ball, a memoir and manifesto that shows women how to cultivate the skill of letting go, Tiffany serves on the board of Girls Who Code and Simmons College and has been featured in The New York Times, ESSENCE, O, The Oprah Magazine, and on NPR. Tiffany's life work is advancing women and girls.

Insight from this episode:

Strategies on leveraging technology to connect in new ways and increase productivity during COVID pandemic.
Behind-the-scene details on how The Cru works and what it took to get it off the ground.
Strategies on testing your entrepreneurial "hypotheses" and root those ideas in your customers' pain points.
Insights into Tiffany's decision to raise venture capital and strategies on how to be successful in that process

Quotes from the show:

"I've been very much catapulted by a group of women that I call my Cru, who I can share my ambitions with, who help me create a plan, who hold me accountable to that plan-- sometimes in ways that I donʻt like because they really hold my feet to the fire. And I feel like every woman needs a Cru." –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744
"If we have a problem, the first question we're likely to ask ourselves is "How am I going to solve this problem?" When the more important question to be asking yourself is "Who's going to help me solve this problem?" –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744
"I had no business plan. I just needed to know, can I put someone out in the world that consumers will respond to? I'm not going to spend time on a business plan unless I have some semblance that people want this first." –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744
"People will say "yes." 98% of it is not that people don't want to support us, or we don't have the bandwidth, help, or resources that we need-- we haven't asked." –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744
"Sometimes when you don't know what you're up against, it's probably better." –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744
"When you have someone who is ushering you through the process, you can save a lot of time." –Tiffany Dufu Support is Sexy Ep. #744

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Tiffany Dufu

Website: TiffanyDufu.com

Twitter: @tdufu

Facebook: @TiffanyDufu

Instagram: @tdufu

LinkedIn: Tiffany Dufu

Youtube: Tiffany Dufu

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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743: Fitlosophy Founder Angela Mader Talks about Life after the Sale of Your Business Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Elayne reconnects with Angela Mader, creator of Fitbook® and Fitlosophy and founder of Type A: Branding and Consulting, to talk about not only what it takes to build a company and brand from the ground up but also the process of selling that company. Our host and Angela discuss both the interesting nitty gritty details of exiting your business as well as the larger impact it can have on your life and identity. Angela has invaluable advice for entrepreneurs at all the journey's stages on this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Angela Mader is a brand builder helping other entrepreneurs achieve ambitious goals with her branding and consulting company, Type A. She is also founder of Fitlosophy and creator of the company's flagship product Fitbook®. In 2018, that company was strategically acquired by a larger consumer products company. Angela is also working on a book proposal.

Insight from this episode:

How to balance your commitment to your vision with the flexibility needed to make good business decisions.
Strategies on "playing smart" in business relationships with vendors and retailers.
Questions to ask yourself if you are considering selling your business.
Strategies on dealing with loss and changing your identity when you sell your business.
Advice on why outside funding might not be right for your company.

Quotes from the show:

"The more I shared more of my struggle behind why I created [Fitbook], the more I really found that the product was reaching the people I intended to." –Angela Mader Support is Sexy Ep. #743
"You won't be successful if you tell your competitors how to compete with you." –Angela Mader Support is Sexy Ep. #743
"If you have a small mindset, you're limiting the success of the business" –Angela Mader Support is Sexy Ep. #743
"You have to take your business seriously before anyone else does too." –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #743
"There is a fine line between something being your passion and being your identity. Because having your identity based in anything that can go away overnight [...] can be dangerous territory." –Angela Mader Support is Sexy Ep. #743
"Girl, if you did it once, you can do it again." –Angela Mader Support is Sexy Ep. #743

Resources Mentioned

Support is Sexy Episode 463: Fitlosophy Founder Angela Mader on Starting Small, Looking Big, Launching Your Products and Building Your Brand

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Angela Mader

Website: AngelaMader.com

Linkedin: Angela Mader

Instagram: @TheAngelaMader

Twitter: @TheAngelaMader

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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BONUS EPISODE: Join Support is Sexy Podcast Host Elayne Fluker at INBOUND 2020! Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

Join Van Jones, John Legend, Alicia Garza, Jessie Williams and, yep, author and Support is Sexy podcast host Elayne Fluker at INBOUND 2020! The annual marketing event is hosted by HubSpot and is traditionally a three day, in-person conference that gathers business professionals from almost every industry and includes inspiring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, interactive activities, Last year's conference attracted about 25,000 in-person attendees!

But this year, INBOUND is going virtual and hosting a two-day event Sept. 22 and 23rd that you can attend from anywhere in the world!

Elayne Fluker is one of your INBOUND 2020 Breakout speakers and is sharing how to Get Over "I Got It" syndrome for unapologetically ambitious women -- which is also the topic of her upcoming book, GET OVER "I Got It" (HarperCollins Leadership, 2021), which you'll hear in this episode. You'll also get access to Elayne's mindset meditation called: "Reflections: Leveling Up Your Mindset and Opening Space for Support," plus she answers questions from INBOUND attendees about branding, marketing and making connections.

Go to INBOUND.com now to get a FREE DIGITAL PASS NOW while supplies last!

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742: How Tech Women Network Founder Jumoke Dada is Leveling-Up Career and Community Resources for Women with Technical Skills Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Elayne is joined by Jumoke Dada, Founder of Tech Women Network and the HUE Tech Summit for women of color in the technology industry. Dada shares the inspiration behind the systems of support she has created for women in tech fields along with strategies to finding your path to fulfillment by leveraging your knowledge and desires. Hear how Dada is opening up doors and bringing women along with her in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Jumoke Dada has spent 15+ years working in corporate information technology and is Founder of Signature RED, a technology and strategy consulting service, and of Tech Women Network, an online hub to connect women in tech to resources and each other. She hosts HUE, an annual tech summit for women of color. A contributing blogger to Forbes.com, Dada has been widely recognized for her work from outlets including Business Insider, The Network Journal, Rad Girls, and Black Enterprise Magazine.

Insight from this episode:

Strategies to shine and thrive in technology spaces whether it has been a long-time passion or not.
How to pivot, adjust, and tweak in both your big and small goals.
Benefits of beta-testing and getting feedback from your audience.
Reflections on the challenges that women of color face in technology.

Quotes from the show:

"There's sometimes this feeling that in order to work in the technology space or be into technology in any way, or become a coder, or whatever it is, people think you have to be that child that was taking apart computers in your parents' garage like Bill Gates or whoever when you were three years old… you don't have to start there." –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #742
"If you're sitting and waiting to figure out if it works, you have to take action." –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #742
"What you initially had in mind to build or create, at the time, it could have been a really great idea and needed for that time. However, if you're still working on it a year later, so much might have changed. It's important to be adaptable." –Jumoke Dada Support is Sexy Ep. #742
"We can't be encouraging girls to come on in if we're exiting left and right… I can't encourage women to come forth and stay and speak and do all these things, if I'm not doing it myself. I have to live by example." –Jumoke Dada Support is Sexy Ep. #742
"Do what you do, do it well, and help other women along the way." –Jumoke Dada Support is Sexy Ep. #742

Resources Mentioned

HUE Tech Summit

Tech Women Network

Tech Women Speakers - The List

Tech Women Network Virtual Career Fair

Elayne Fluker Speaking at LinkedIn TransformHer Conference

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Jumoke Dada

Website: Dadaverse.org

Twitter: @JumokeDada

Facebook: @JumokeDada

Instagram: @JumokeDada

LinkedIn: Jumoke K. Dada

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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741: Speaking Your Brand Founder Carol Cox Tells How to Become a Thought Leader, Share Your Stories and Disrupt the Status Quo Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, Carol Cox of Speaking Your Brand teaches about having clarity, conviction, and confidence in our voices and stories. You have what it takes to be a thought leader! Learn how to develop your thought leadership platform, evolve your brand during turbulent times, and tap into your storytelling power on this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Carol Cox is Founder and Podcaster of Speaking Your Brand, where she coaches women entrepreneurs to help them gain more visibility, leadership, and influence through public speaking. Her mission is to get more women into positions of influence in order to challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Carol has 15+ years experience as a democratic political analyst.

Insight from this episode:

Strategies for those who are just starting their entrepreneurial journey
Secrets to creating an efficient framework for your business
Differences between thought leaders and content creators, and how you can bring a new perspective to the table
Insights into the "IDEAL" ingredients to storytelling and universalizing your story
Finding your "VOICE" in thought leadership

Quotes from the show:

"If you are values-based and you're purpose-driven, and you have something that's really meaningful to you, how are you conveying that to your audience in everything that you do? It's not just about your words, it's about your actions that back it up." –Carol Cox Support is Sexy Ep. #741
On storytelling: "We realize we're not alone in our experiences… For millennia, women haven't been validated. We haven't been validated for our experiences, our emotions, our dreams, our goals, our desires… stories create community for us as women." –Carol Cox Support is Sexy Ep. #741
"Sometimes, too, we might dismiss the things that might come easy to us or we enjoy because we might think, doesn't that come easy to everyone?" –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #741
"The story you think you shouldn't share is probably the one you should." –Carol Cox Support is Sexy Ep. #741
"Your silence and your perfectionism maintain the status quo… and we know that the status was built by white men for white men and the rest of us don't benefit from it." –Carol Cox Support is Sexy Ep. #741

Resources Mentioned:

How to Repurpose Your In-Person Presentation into an Engaging Webinar

Tammy Lally's TEDx talk

Speaking Your Brand Podcast Episode 186 with Elayne Fluker: From Hashtag to Podcast to Book: Developing Your Thought Leadership Platform

Speaking Your Brand Podcast Episode 185 with Carol's very personal story

Speaking Your Brand podcast episodes on storytelling

Speaking Your Brand podcast episodes on frameworks

Stay Connected:

Elayne Fluker

Website: elaynefluker.com

Twitter: @elaynefluker

Facebook: Elayne Fluker

Instagram: @elaynefluker

LinkedIn: Elayne Fluker

Youtube: Elayne Fluker

Carol Cox

Website: SpeakingYourBrand.com

Twitter: @CarolMorganCox

Instagram: @CarolMorganCox

LinkedIn: Carol Cox

Support is Sexy

Website: Support is Sexy Podcast

Facebook: Support is Sexy

Instagram: @supportissexy

Youtube: Support is Sexy Podcast Playlist

Post-production for this episode was provided by Podcast Laundry.

[Music: "Stomp and Clap" by Scott Holmes from Free Music Archive]

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740: Becoming Nadia Lopez: How One of the Nation's Top Educators Learned Hard Lessons about the Importance of Self-Care and Built Her Roadmap to Freedom Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Support is Sexy, hear the ups and downs of Nadia Lopez's journey. An inspiring educator of Brooklyn who "opened a school to close a prison," Nadia speaks about her experiences with both the limelight and the day-to-day reality of running her school. She emphasizes the absolute necessity of self-care in the face of intense pressure and stress in this episode of Support is Sexy.

Elayne Fluker

About our Guest:

Nadia Lopez, a passionate educational leader of over 10 years, is Founder of Mott Hall Bridges Academy, a STEM focused public middle school in Brownsville, Brooklyn. After being honored in Humans of New York, Nadia was recognized by President Obama and has given a TED Talk. She's been on The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and she's now the Chief Visionary Officer of The Lopez Effect. Check out her book The Bridge to Brilliance and her weekly Instagram show On The Low.

Insight from this episode:

How to prioritize mental health and heal yourself, especially during the pandemic.
Strategies for building a supportive team and the importance of having mentors and advocates.
Why we can't dismiss all the work that goes into being an "overnight success."
Strategies on listening to yourself and your body even when those around you say "you're fine."

Quotes from the show:

"The individuals who had the most significant influence, outside of my parents, were educators." –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"Rather than be part of the complaining committee, I wanted to know what was happening in the school system." –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"This door might have closed or doesn't want to open, but what are your other ways of getting in? Or maybe you just need to go into a whole other building, and that building is the one you need to be opening doors in." –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"You cannot be defeated by one event in your life." –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"When you're in a particular industry, especially like education, it's so good to have people outside of it because if not, you get sucked up into this negative space." –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"It's one post, one scholar, but actually it's 10 years of work, all those years before, that you have poured into yourself and wanting to do this and getting denied and going through all the changes and then getting to the point where you are in this position…" –Elayne Fluker Support is Sexy Ep. #740
"People tied my identity and work into this one moment in time, and I fell into that. Now I started to feel like, if I do leave, what's my credibility out in the world?" –Nadia Lopez Support is Sexy Ep. #740